King's Landing – 111 AC
I frowned as I marched through the halls of the Red Keep, leaving behind a seething Otto Hightower, as he tried to dissuade the king from his decision. Normally, Otto's trecherous sweet whispers would be enough to change my brother's decison. However, now Viserys would not hear to anyone but himself. He had this crazed look in his eyes, one that had be shuddering.
"Sister," I entered the queen's chamber, where Aemma was sitting by the window, looking down King's Landing.
"So, you've heard," she hummed, not looking away from the window.
"This is madness! Marrying a Targaryen to a dornishman! What is my brother thinking?!" I seethed. "To keep it a secret from everyone until now... this is not like him!"
"Did you know I married Viserys when I was one and ten?" Aemma replied, catching me off guard. "I loved him, or at least I thought I did. Which is why I forced myself to give him what he had always wanted... a male heir." She sighed, before turning towards me. I almost gasped at the pain and betreyal in her eyes. "I knew it meant that I could die at any moment and my health has been in declive since Rhaenyra's birth. However, I still tried my best out of my love for your brother. But that was never enough for him... it was not until my daughter barged into my room crying her heart out and declaring that she would take my place to give him a male heir that he stopped." I flinched back at her words and the rage in her eyes. "You niece saw me die in a dream, after your brother told the Grand Maester to cut me open and take out the baby in my belly. A babe that died only a couple of hours after me."
"A dreamer..." I whispered, horrified by her words.
"He does not care for anyone or anything but his legacy and Valyrian's prophecies!" She seethed, glaring at me- but I could tell she was not angry at me. "Does he listen to us? To his family? No! He would rather listen to that snake Otto Hightower than any of us. He treats you like shit and thinks of me as expendable, when we are the reason he seats on that throne comfortable. Your dragon and my vale army!" She took a deep breath to calm down before continuing. "You love your brother, the only direct family you have left, but we both know the cruel truth that he does not love you back... at least, not as much as you love him." I flinched at her cold words, knowing they were true but not wanting to believe them. "He kept you on an unhappy marriage and pulled you from position to position. I don't know when it happened, when he turned cold and so high in his power. He will drag the realm down with him and I need to know where you stand." She stared at me, eyes sharp and ready to battle like the falcon of her house. "With your brother? Or with you niece?"
"My niece, of course," I answered readily.
I might try to hide from the truth, from the lack of care of my own brother, but I am not blind. I know that the only two people that have ever truly loved me and saw good in me were Aemma and Rhaenyra. They saw the real me and loved me for it. Not inspite of it.
"Good, because she got your marriage annulled," Aemma told me, as if it was not the thing I've wished for my whole life. I stared at her stunned, as Aemma smirked. "I got my cousin and House Royce's permision. As House Royce needs an heir, they had no issue with allowing this. I think they've thought the two of you would finally relent and bed each other."
"As if!" I scoffed. "The Bronze Bitch is as stubborn as me!"
"I can see that, I just hoped my husband would have too," Aemma shook her head in disapointment. "You will marry Laena Velaryon, you will have the Valyrian bride you've always wished for... and two daughters that will become queen and Lady of Driftmark." I stared at her stunned, hope growing within me as Aemma smiled softly at me. "They will both get Targeryan princes as husbands... though, Rhaenyra also wants to give you a warning."
"A warning?" I asked her fearfully.
"After your second daughter is born, do not allow Laena to get pregnant again," Aemma told me, glaring. "She will burn by dragon's fire. Your daughters will grow healthy and reach majority without any issue. So, there's no need for another child."
"Don't worry, I am good with my daughters," I assured her. "Two little princesses of my own..." I wondered hopefully. I looked away blushing when I noticed Aemma's soft stare. "What about my niece? Will she be ok with the dornishman?"
"I do not know," Aemma admitted, looking back to the city from her window. "She didn't speak about her marriage a lot, but she did speak about her children."
"She will have more than one?" I asked surprised, as I knew that my niece feared the birthingbed from all the difficulties her mother has had.
"She will have six, five boys and a girl," Aemma smiled.
"Well, they will be kept busy for sure," I replied, eyes widening at the number. It might not be the number my grandnparent's reached, but it was still quite big.
"Jacaerys will marry your daughter and rule the 7 Kingdoms together, Lucerys will become your other daughter's Lord Consort of Driftmark, it will be two happy marriages formed from a tight friendship," Aemma assured me, bringing a smile to my face. My sweet princesses will be happy and have a secured future, what else can I wish for? "Then will come Joffrey, he will be the Prince of Dorne after his father. After him will be born Aegon and Viserys, and finally Visenya. I already talked with my cousin and she is more than happy to name Rhaenyra's firstborn daughter as her heir."
"With her preferences this is the best choice," I snickered.
"Be good," Aemma warned me, but had an ammused expression on her face. "Visenya will marry her brother Aegon and rule the Vale together. As for Viserys, he will start a branch family of House Targeryan in his own keep... but to claim those lands a war will break."
"A war?!" All my good mood evaporated with those news. "Where? When?"
"Rhaenyra does not know yet, all she knows is that we need to heed the warning of the Sea Snake," Aemma informed me.
"Rhaenys' husband will be the one to be the messenger of war? Am I the only one who feels unease because of that? Will they contend my future grand-nephew's claim?" I wondered out loud.
"Not with us promising them a Velaryon queen and given them two princes," Aemma replied. "If anything I would expect them to be our most ardent supporters. "I believe the issue will be pirates."
"The Narrow Seas then," I deduced. "We will need more ships, dragon fire is of no help when those rats will only go back and hide in their caves."
"I already put money and men to work on them," Aemma assured me with a sigh. "My dear husband is too busy telling the world that he is the reason Dorne will finally be fully part of the 7 Kingdoms." I grimmaced at her dry words. "What's worst is that he is not making any friends with the Faith at the moment."
"They will be furious about the weddings being on the Rhyonar and Valyrian traditions," I scoffed with a vicious smirk. "It's only recently that the royal family has began wedding in a sept under the Seven! Why would they be surprised that we decided to go back to our traditions now that my grandfather is dead?"
Before we could continue talking a White Cloak entered the room, pale and panting. "Your Grace, Prince Daemon, there's a commotion in the throne room. The High Septon has come and proclaimed the princess a heretic!"
My eyes widened in shock, before a blinding fury filled me from within. How dare they?! This has Hightower's handywork all over it!
"Then let's show them why it is not wise to go against a dragon," my sister stood up gracefully and marched foward with determination. I followed her with a smirk, filled with pride at her strength. We entered the throne room, just as the High Septon was shouting that the crown did not respect the Light of the Seven. "What is the meaning of this?"
Everyone stopped and bowed, as we joined our family by the Iron Throne. I glared at Otto, who wore a giddy expression on his face, one that he was trying to hide badly.
"A missunderstanding muña," Rhaenyra answered with an angelic smile, that had everyone fooled but me. I know that smile, that's one filled by pure mischief.
"A misunderstanding?!" The High Septon repeated, overstepping with his tone and behavior. He began stuttering like an idiot when I glared at him.
"Of course," Rhaenyra turned to smile at the High Septon, taking everyone in the throne room by surprise by her calmness. "It is not that we do not respect the Seven, it's just that my future husband and I following another faith. As the 7 Kingdoms is open to various cultures and religions, we did not believe that to be an issue."
"But we are the predominant faith and the one that blessed the crown!" The High Septon declared like the idiot he is.
Many of the nobles that have gathered aorund gasped at his declaration, while the snake Hightower nodded smiling. Taking a look around I could see Lyonel Strong fumming at the outrage of the High Septons words, behind my sweet niece her newly appointed Sworn Shield, Harwin Strong looked ready to run the High Septon through with his sword.
"No you are not," Rhaenyra corrected him, frowning confused. Or that's what it looked like others, to me it looked like a cat that got the cream. "More than half the kingdom follows the Old Gods, even predominant families down the Neck like the Royce and Strong Houses." She smiled at her Sworn Shield and Master of Laws sweetly, both of them smiling back in gratefulness. "The whole of Dorne follows the teachings of Mother Rhyone, House Targeryan and Velaryon follow the Fourteen Flames of Old Valyra. So, no High Septon, the seven does not have predominy." Rhaenyra smiled victoriously, as the High Septon blushed in embarassment and fury as many lords and ladies laughed at his stupidity. I had a huge smile on my face, that's my niece people! "Do not claim we are being insentive to your faith either, let us not forget you guys were the only ones to ever repress other religions and raise arms against the crown."
The laughing stopped, as we all stared at her in shock. She went there... she truly went fucking there! In that moment dornishmen, being lead by my niece's future husband, came in with various treasures and arrested septons.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Otto screamed, not being able to hold back any longer. "Release this good and pious men right now! Guards!"
"Pious?" Rhaenyra repeated, holding the men back with a glare, before turning towards the Hand of the King. "If you had allowed me to talk with my father and not tried to decredit my future marriage, this wouldn't have happened in the first place!" She then turned to my brother and smiled "apologetically" to my brother. "As I tried to tell you before father, when we heard the septons badmouthing this great union you've arranged we went to investigate. You know what we found? Rapist, thieves, and child molesters are among these monsters that hide themselves behind a mask of purity and faith!"
"By the Gods!" Viserys growled aghast, while many ladies cried and lords raged.
"Also, look at that, what does the faith who prays and debotes themselves to the people and living with the bare minimun want with all of that? We better put all of that to better use, I think orphanages, soup kitchens, and learning institutes will be a good idea," my niece continued weaving her web expertly, as the court praised her goodwill in whispers.
"House Martell will love to add their coin to these grand project for the people of King's Landing," Qoren Martell added with a smirk.
"Thank you, my betrothed!" Rhaenerys beamed at him, while the ladies swooned about what a good and poius match they make. I held back my snicker at how well my niece was playing everyone. Not even, Otto could find an opening to deffend his precious faith. "As for the issue at hand, of course I respect the seven, as I respect any other religion in the 7 kingdoms." Liar! You dirty liar! When did you learn to lie like this my dear niece? "Which is why I decided to aid you High Septon by arresting these criminals with the aid of Dorne. I am sure if you had known you would have dealt with them, but that would only cause discord among your people which is why I made sure that the fault and blame befalls upon me. You are welcome, High Septon."
I could not hold it back anymore, I burst out laughing as the court cheered her on for her bravery and thinking about her people. Aemma wore a proud smile on her face, as Viserys shouted to get these mosters to the dungeons and to start working on s daughter's wishes about the treasures that were brought in. The High Septon could only stare pale and horrified by what had just happened, the faith could no longer say a thing about their marriage. They could only support it from now one after being indebted to my niece and all the good pious work she will be doing. Sneaking a glance at Otto, I could only burst out in laughter again. He looked as if he had swallowed a lemon, glaring at Rhaenyra and Qoren in hatred.
You want a battle Highfucker? You'll get one! Because right now, I will make sure the House of the Dragon will stand together!